Brand new airplane up today!

[Sasquatch]

True...but whatever it's title, it's weight. Can't drop it or shoot it at the enemy, cost's fuel and performance to haul it, and the more moving parts it has, the more maintenance and parts will be required to keep it working.

--Tom

[kenlyco]

I agree the STOL version is going to be a nightmare,but thats the capabilities the Marines wanted.I was a little shocked when Lockheed got the contract, seeing they just won the f22 years before that, It was close must have been political?

[Sasquatch]

I agree the STOL version is going to be a nightmare,but thats the capabilities the Marines wanted.I was a little shocked when Lockheed got the contract, seeing they just won the f22 years before that, It was close must have been political?

Think so. If I remember correctly, according to the numbers in AvWeek, the Boeing outperformed the F-35. So something else was going on. But it'll be a great jet no doubt. Lockheed Martin knows what they're doing...congrats to those folks for first flight! Kenlyco, that's a great engine run flick you linked...gotta send that one around to my buds. Thanks!

--Tom

[Zachary]

I don't care what it looks like, as long as it does its job and we taxpayers get what we're paying for!

Zack

[sdennison]

What are you smoking,this is one badass looking bird!!

How can you not love a bazillion dollar bird that has "ears". That take off roll was, what 15 feet?

Wait, is there a pilot in there???

[STURMVOGEL 262]

True...like the A-6 Intruder, F-8 Crusader and A-7 Corsair II...all sailor scooperuppers. Best negative comment I heard about the jet was that the Pentagon insiders derisively called it the "Monica Lewinski". I still liked it better than the F-35, especially in the VSTOL version. That version of the F-35 will be hauling around an extra jet engine, something the Boeing doesn't need to do.

--Tom

Yep she is one FUGLY

But I thought the Harrier was ugly to start with, H'mmm nice Jet's since since or including 1945

The 262

A little nice the flyin Rock Gloster job!!

The Sabre all model's except Dog Nose !

TSR 2

Hunter.

Lightning NAH two ugly.......

Starfighter from some angle's

Ardvark.

NOT the Phantom, she's mega Fugly thought to be delivered UP SIDE DOWN

Some of the french shiit was not toooo bad

OHHH liked the ole Skyhawk from some angle's tooo

Never the the 117 that's ugly too

The F-16's, F-18's and Tornado's have grown on me over time, like the Raptor and the Euro fighter and littler french version.

H'mmm and the lastest Flyin Volvos , but liked the other two before aswell.

Have I missed any, OH Jezzz yes The Russky's had some nice lookin job's tooo, some fugly like everyone else.........

Have I missed any ??.........2.13 Am here.......MS is meltin mind and body once more, So I gotta crash, " Gut Nacht " Or Good Moaning or mooning

Cheerio and Tally Ho!

All Far and WIDE!

Ooooooo Roooooo from Phil in Oz!!!

[Sasquatch]

Sea Vixen was BE-YOU-TIF-UL!

[bdk]

I was a little shocked when Lockheed got the contract, seeing they just won the f22 years before that, It was close must have been political?

St. Louis lost the contract twice. Once as McDonnell Douglas and later as Boeing. My understanding was that the performance of the Boeing model was good and it was the first to fly, but that it missed the mark as far as the mechanical configuration which was little more than an improved Harrier type design. The Lockheed entry used a lift fan design. Some also say that the uglier plane never wins a competition.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200206/fallows

[kenlyco]

I can remember when Pratt was competing for the engine contract with GE, all the tests in West Palm ,out at Edwards,2 teams working the YF-22 and another on the YF-23 one Pratt one GE, this would brake, that would brake and so on.I remember GE burning up A motor in there stand It was like being on a football team, each team eyeing each other and talking, if I could write a book you guys would get a kick out of it.So anyway, after reading the link BDK put up I remember the whole plant on the assembly floor when they announced Pratt had Won the contract,needless to say what the reaction was. We all new something bigger was down the road the JSF program, when you work for a goverment contractor the only thing you hope for is job security, because they will lay you off in a second if wallstreet is not showing the #' so when the contract came around for the JSF now we were competing Pratt/Lockheed, Pratt/Boeing All on one assembly area they gave us our security clearance and built two rooms and we went to work I wont say what team I was on.Even today Pratt got to be on the its toe's because GE is still working there engine program .They will build some of the engines under Pratts name just like we did for the F-18.my spelling sucks sorry.